The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
CRUISE CONTROL: John Pike took top spot at the Eye 10k. Photo by PAUL HOMEWOOD
Spalding native John Pike saw off challenging weather conditions and a strong field to win the Eye 10k in imperious fashion.
Sunshine, thunderous rain and strong winds made life tough for the sizeable field of 430 runners in an event that served as the second round of the Cambridgeshire Road Race League.
Pike, who was representing Newham and Essex Beagles on the day, was first across the line to clock a time of 33.32minutes.
The occasional Nene Valley Harrier convincingly beat off the challenge from Michael Moore and Chris Curtis, who were nearly 30seconds behind in second and third places respectively.
Nene Valley Harriers’ Yolanda Gratton was hot on the heels of leading lady Claire Somerton for the majority of the undulating multi-terrain course and finished close behind in a time of 40.04mins.
Club-mate Ruth Jones wasn’t far behind in third place after finishing in a rapid 40.36mins.
The Harriers claimed the women’s and men’s team prizes on the day too.
The men’s team was made up of Lance Hemmings, Sean Beard, James Macdonald and Olly Slater, and the women’s squad was completed by Spalding’s Emma Penniston and Billy Whyatt.
- Nene Valley Harriers’ youngsters faced stiff opposition when they travelled to Luton for the second match of the Eastern Young Athletes’ League, but prevailed to take third place.
Their best results came in the under-15 girls’ competitions, which the Harriers won convincingly despite strong headwinds throughout the afternoon.
Lydia Church contributed significantly to the overall points tally with wins in the shot put and hammer, as well as placing well in the discus.
Jasmine Allen also put in excellent performances when she won both the 100m and 200m, before going on to play an important part in the winning 100m relay team.
Alex Hampson, meanwhile, was a convincing winner in the under-17 1,500m, drawing away from the field effortlessly with 600m to go to take the race by ten seconds in a comfortable 4.19.6mins.
It wasn’t just the scoring athletes who put in sterling performances though, as under-15 Paula Naylor proved when she shattered her personal best of 2.54mins for the 800m with a fantastic time of 2.38.9mins – winning her non-scoring race in the process.
Kai Harrison did well to win his javelin competition with a throw of 26.45m, before going on to place second in the discus, while Rheanne Lornie won her under-13 discus event with ease.
Under-17 Rosie Marshall seized the maximum points when she won the 800m in a speedy 2.28.9mins and Emily Brand continued her winning ways with a top spot in her 1,500m race in 5.33.7mins.
